Looking for a new camera, D3200/3300, something else?

<p>Been away from this fine site for a good while, had to sell my D90 outfit a good while back to pay med bills, and hopefully looking to buy a replacement in the next couple of months. Two years without a camera is crazy. Being on a budget, I've been looking at the D3200 and D3300, as well as some bridge cameras (Sony DSC-HX400v and Gasp! a Canon SX-60), and read all the specs, but still confused. I don't plan to make the investment in a large outfit again, just looking for IQ. Obviously, what I'm comparing are different animals, so was looking for feedback from anyone on these cameras and their experiences. Thanks to all.</p>

<p>I shoot Nikon, a friend has the D3200, and likes it very much. Its sensor, and that of the D3300, are significantly improved over the D90, a camera I had a while ago. The things you might miss are (1) the pentaprism finder of the D90, because the D3xxx series have pentamirrors which are less bright, and (2) The second control dial, which allow you to have one dial for aperture and another for shutter speed. Also note that, if you still have any AF lenses that don't have internal motors, the D3xxx series bodies will not autofocus with them.</p>

<p>Prices have been dropping on used, D90, D7000 and even D7100 bodies. If the missing features are important to you, you might want to consider buying used. I don't know the bridge cameras you are considering. There have been some good reviews of some of the Panasonic offering in <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/"><strong>dpreview</strong></a>, particularly the LX100. (Disclosure: I worked for Panasonic for many years, in a totally different area than photography or imaging, and still have friends there.)</p>

<p>Mark--don't know what your budget is, but the D3300 with the kit lens makes an ideal all-round camera. VERY lightweight, excellent picture quality, and no issues that I have found. Of course, I'm not a "pro" and use it for general photography----e.g.--family events and travel, etc--and it is great! Go try one and see what you think. Costco has a big sale on the D3300 kit with 2 lens--18-55 and 50-200.<br>

Good luck!<br>

Paul</p>

<p>I have a D3200, and I like it a lot. The kit lens is competent and sharp, and the 55-300 which I got at the same time with a huge discount is nice too. I bought mine to take to the Galapagos in spring, and found that combo worked very well, and it was easy to carry. I was pleased with the photographs I got. At times I wished for the better weather protection and super auto-focus performance of my wife's D7100, but I wanted a small relatively cheap camera that would take good pictures and not break my heart if it broke or fell in the ocean, and it did just fine. </p>

<p>I think if I were doing this again, I'd probably opt for the D3300, though there's little more for the price. But the D3300 has no anti-aliasing filter, and is said to be just a tad sharper. Judging from the side by side with my wife's D7100 with no AA filter, I'd say it's not very important, but it is noticeable at times. And they keep upping the useable ISO. It's good on the D3200, but a little better never hurts. </p>

<p>The other thing, a minor but persistent annoyance, is that the placement of the multi-function switch on the D3200 falls just where I often rest a finger, and I often accidentally move the focus point without immediately realizing it. I've gotten used to hitting the "OK" button before I shoot as a precaution. It's been moved down on the D3300, and the placement looks as if it will avoid that problem. The D3xxx have no lock for that switch. </p>

<p>The little viewfinder is less than wonderful, and the + diopter only goes to +.5, which is rather poor. I got a DK-21M magnifying eyepiece for mine which helps a good bit at the cost of a little eyepoint, and also adds a good bit of positive diopter, a definite plus if you're farsighted. On the other hand, if you're using the autofocus kit lenses, the viewfinder is less of an issue. Mine focuses very accurately. If the shutter clicks, something will be sharp. If you remembered to check the focus light, it will even be what you were aiming at! </p>

<p>If you don't mind losing autofocus and metering, the D3xxx has the advantage that you can mount almost any lens Nikon ever made. Unlike higher models with AI meter followers, this one mounts pre-AI lenses with no worry. Meter with sunny 16 and the histogram, and some of those old lenses can turn out to be very fine indeed. If you just want a really nice little AF camera, it is that, but it is also a dandy platform for playing with odd and obsolete gadgetry. </p>

 

<p>I like my a D3300 kit with 18-55 and 55-200. 24MP, together with Expeed 4 processor provide excellent image quality and low light noise characteristics. If you're used to having two control wheels and more buttons for assigning manual control, the D3_ _ _ cameras are a bit lacking. There is an assignable Fn button on the left of the pentamirror housing, a single control wheel and buttons for +/- exposure (top) and drive modes (back). Otherwise, there is a quick menu button that opens to other options on the LCD, but three button presses are required to change settings there. It's small and lightweight, very easy to carry. The viewfinder is quite bright for a pentamirror, and a bit larger than the D3200. Samples are here in my gallery and on <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/126668185@N02/">Flickr.</a></p>

<p>The D3200 has a limit on ISO settings: 200, 400, 800, 1600. You can't get ISO 320 or ISO 500, like you could on your old Nikon D90.</p>

<p>Have you checked the refurbished price on a Nikon 5100 body? Image quality is very good.</p>

<p>What's your definition of IQ, and under what circumstances? Are you just wanting a general purpose camera that will produce a "decent" image under widely varying conditions? Or are you wanting the camera that will produce the very best IQ under very specific and narrow conditions, such as bright light on a tripod for landscapes or studio work, or handheld shooting black cats in a coal mine at night?<br>

Answering these questions will go a long way towards helping narrow down your search.</p>

<p>I thank everyone for their responses. Mike, in terms of IQ, looking at it from a general sense. Will be doing portraits, possible some macro work, so really nothing too specialized.</p>

<p>I should mention that, although I do not see it as a particular problem, the fact that the D3200 only changes ISO in full stop increments can be gotten around in a way, because it goes in smaller increments (I think it's 1/3) in auto ISO. If you absolutely insist on using an ISO between the usual settings, you can set the camera to manual mode and auto ISO and the meter will force ISO, though you won't see your results until you read the EXIF for the shot.</p>

<p>I don't find it a problem worth the effort, as it's pretty free of ISO noise at lower settings anyway, so there's little if anything to gain in small changes. I rarely use auto ISO at all.</p>